Sacramento City Rallies Late to Edge Fullerton, 9-8

Sacramento City mounted a dramatic comeback, scoring five runs in the seventh inning to defeat Fullerton, 9-8, on February 21, 2025. Fullerton appeared to have control of the game early, leading 7-0 after the first two innings, but Sacramento City's resilient offense came to life late, erasing the deficit and securing a thrilling victory.

Early Dominance by Fullerton

Fullerton wasted no time taking control of the game in the first inning. The Hornets capitalized on a series of walks and wild pitches to put up six quick runs. The big hit of the inning came from Kai Hopfel, whose bases-loaded double cleared the bases, driving in three runs to give Fullerton a commanding 6-0 lead. Fullerton added another run in the second inning, as a wild pitch allowed Jake Starr to score, making it 7-0.

Sacramento City Starts the Comeback

Sacramento City showed signs of life in the third inning. Lucas Drake and Dylan Drake hit back-to-back doubles, driving in the Panthers' first two runs and cutting the lead to 7-2. However, Fullerton's pitching held firm until the sixth inning, when the Panthers struck again. Jaxen Mentink delivered a two-RBI single, cutting Fullerton's lead to 7-4, setting up a dramatic final few innings.

The Seventh-Inning Explosion

Sacramento City's offense exploded in the seventh, sending nine batters to the plate and scoring five runs to take their first lead of the game. Levi Sotomayor and Tyson Mayberry each contributed with an RBI, while a pair of unearned runs came across on a fielder's choice and an error by Fullerton. The Panthers' 5-run outburst gave them a 9-7 lead.

Fullerton's Late Rally Falls Short

The Hornets didn't go down quietly. In the ninth inning, Jake Starr led off with a solo home run to bring Fullerton within one run at 9-8. However, Sacramento City's pitching, led by Kyle Seo, shut the door, and the Panthers held on for the win.

Key Performances:

Fullerton:

• Jake Starr – 3-for-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 R
• Kai Hopfel – 1-for-3, 3 RBIs
• Erik Polanco – 2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 R
• Sage Nelson (L, 0-1) – 5.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO

Sacramento City:

• Jaxen Mentink – 2-for-4, 3 RBIs
• Dylan Drake – 3-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 R
• Lucas Drake – 1-for-2, 1 RBI, 2 R
• Kyle Seo (W, 1-0) – 3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 SO